Port Melbourne Secondary College

Client:
Site Location: Port Melbourne
Services Deployed:

Project Overview

Beveridge Williams’ environmental division was approached by the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) for the Contamination Assessment of a Council works depot in Port Melbourne for advice regarding redevelopment for a secondary school.

BW was involved in the contamination assessment from the preliminary stage through to the completion of a detailed contamination assessment, remediation and Environmental Audit.

Beveridge Williams was also happy to assist VSBA with subsequent management of ground gas and acid sulfate soil issues that arose during the construction process.

Work Undertaken

Beveridge Williams preliminary contamination assessment in late 2018 identified contaminated surface fill at the site and recommended VSBA consider completing a voluntary Environmental Audit to provide further insight and independent third-party certification of the site’s suitability.

A detailed contamination assessment was completed as part of an Environmental Audit, which included:

  • Assessment of soil contamination through a detailed sampling and testing regime
  • Assessment of groundwater contamination through the installation and sampling of a network of groundwater monitoring wells across the site.
  • Remediation of approx. 270 tonnes of contaminated gasworks waste soil and removal of all remnant depot infrastructure.
  • A human health risk assessment which evaluated the potential impact of soil and groundwater contaminants on the health of future site users to determine the best way forward balancing public safety and economic considerations.

Following the completion of the Environmental Audit in early 2020, Beveridge Williams assisted with the assessment of potential ground gas and acid sulfate soil issues that may arise during the construction process. Typical for the area, testing confirmed that shallow Coode Island Silts and underlying Werribee Formation soils were classified as acid sulfate soils.

In 2022, Port Melbourne Secondary College opened for students from years 7 to 12. Beveridge Williams was pleased to be involved with the project, which with was as a finalist for the Victorian Premiers Design Awards.